The Domino Effect from Jeong Gyeong-sim's First Trial... Impact on Cho Kuk, Cho Min, and Choi Kang-wook

Different Judges but Higher Possibility of Recognizing Conspiracy in Admission Fraud in Cho Kuk's Trial
If Cho Min, About to Obtain Medical License, Has Busan National University Medical School Admission Canceled, License Becomes Invalid
Trial of Choi Kang-wook Who Issued Intern Confirmation Also Affected

Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University (left) and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. Photo by Moon Ho-nam and Kim Hyun-min

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Although the first trial result of Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University ended as a complete victory for the prosecution, it is not the end but a new beginning.

On the 23rd, Professor Jeong immediately filed an appeal against the first trial verdict, turning the courtroom battle between the prosecution and Professor Jeong into a long fight that, as 'expected,' will have to go all the way to the Supreme Court.

Moreover, it inevitably affects Professor Jeong, her husband former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, their children, and Representative Choi Kang-wook of the Open Democratic Party.

Did the right to remain silent become a poison?

Since being indicted on September 6, 2019, Professor Jeong exercised her right to remain silent throughout the prosecution investigation and trial process.

She maintained her right to remain silent until the very end of the first trial sentencing date. When the court asked for her opinion on detention, Professor Jeong choked up and said she would seek assistance from her lawyer, but even this was not accepted.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, Professor Jeong’s husband, also appeared at his wife’s trial and repeatedly said he would "comply with Article 148 of the Criminal Procedure Act," refusing to testify in any way.

At first, Cho Kuk said during the investigation and indictment stages that he would "reveal everything in court," but during the trial, he refused to testify, reversing his words and drawing criticism. The first trial verdict the day before came as "an extremely great shock," as he posted on social media (SNS).

Accordingly, there is a possibility that Professor Jeong or former Minister Cho Kuk may change their trial strategy in the second trial, but it seems difficult to overturn the factual findings or evidence judgments recognized in the first trial.

Trial becomes unfavorable for former Minister Cho Kuk

Former Minister Cho Kuk is currently on trial for allegations including his children’s admission fraud, bribery for receiving a scholarship at Pusan National University Medical School, instructing evidence forgery, and false property reporting related to a private equity fund. Regarding his children’s admission fraud, he is being tried together with Professor Jeong for his son, and separately for his daughter.

The court recognized a conspiracy relationship between former Minister Cho Kuk and Professor Jeong for three charges among those for which Professor Jeong was found guilty the day before: obstruction of business, use of forged official documents, and instructing evidence concealment.

First, the court judged that former Minister Cho Kuk forged an intern certificate from the Seoul National University Public Interest Human Rights Law Center without the permission of Center Director Han In-seop. The intern certificate for the Busan Aqua Palace was also concluded to have been arbitrarily created by former Minister Cho Kuk. Furthermore, the court saw that former Minister Cho Kuk participated in the process where Professor Jeong submitted these false documents to Seoul National University Medical School, thereby obstructing admission procedures.

Although Professor Jeong and the court differ, it is unlikely that the factual findings will be overturned within the same Seoul Central District Court, so the possibility of recognizing a conspiracy relationship with former Minister Cho Kuk is high.

Moreover, the court’s recognition that the 1 billion KRW transferred by Professor Jeong to Cho Beom-dong, former Minister Cho Kuk’s fifth cousin, was 'investment money' rather than a 'loan' is expected to influence judgments on former Minister Cho Kuk’s violations of the Public Officials Ethics Act and obstruction of official duties by deception.

Meanwhile, the court’s judgment on the children’s admission fraud the day before is also expected to affect the trial of Representative Choi, who is charged with obstruction of business for issuing a false intern certificate to former Minister Cho Kuk’s son and is scheduled for sentencing next month.

What about Cho Min’s degree?

With the court recognizing all of Professor Jeong’s admission fraud charges as guilty, attention is focused on whether her daughter Cho Min will retain her degree.

Cho Min, a fourth-year student at Pusan National University Medical School, took the 2021 medical licensing examination last September and is preparing to obtain her medical license next year. If her admission to Pusan National University Medical School is canceled, it is highly likely that her medical license will also be invalidated.

The court pointed out the day before, "If Cho Min had not stated or submitted the fact of receiving an award on her application and self-introduction letter, she would likely not have been admitted to Pusan National University Medical School in 2015."

However, Kim Hae-young, head of the Pusan National University Admissions Office, said, "We will hold a review committee based on the final court judgment and the admission guidelines and discuss it. We do not know when the trial will end, but we plan to make a decision at that moment."

Korea University plans to confirm the facts internally after reviewing the first trial verdict and then decide on a specific stance. Previously, it appeared that admission fraud also occurred when Cho Min entered Korea University in 2009 through the World Leading Talent admission track, so there is a possibility that her academic degree may even be revoked.

The Korean Pediatric Society filed an injunction request on the same day to suspend the validity of Cho Min’s written medical licensing exam until the final court ruling is made.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.